M.A. Committee
With your advisor, establish your examining committee by November 1 of your second year. The committee consists of a minimum of 3 graduate faculty: 2 from GNSD (one of whom is your advisor) and an outside faculty member (if you have a designated minor, the person must be from that field). After the individuals have agreed to be on your committee, you will need to submit an online form. See the Examination Committees page on OneStop. Once submitted, this online form will automatically route to your advisor and the DGS for approval.
If you want a faculty member who is no longer at the University, or who is from another institution, on your committee there are additional steps that must be completed in order to add that person. Please reach out to your GPC as soon as possible if you think you may want a committee member who is external to the University.
The GDP form/GPAS Planner must have been submitted and in the system before you can submit your committee.
Ph.D. Prelim Committee
With your advisor, establish your committee for the preliminary examination by December 1. This may be done sooner, but cannot be completed until your GDP form/GPAS Planner has been submitted and is in the system.
The committee is composed of a minimum of four faculty members, three from the Department faculty and one from an outside field. Your advisor is usually the chair of this committee. If you have selected a minor, one committee member must be from that field. The Department recommends that two members of the prelim committee come from outside the Department, for a total of five committee members. After the individuals have agreed to be on your committee, submit their names using the Examination Committees page on OneStop. Once submitted, the form will be routed to your advisor and the DGS for approval.
If you want a faculty member who is no longer at the University, or who is from another institution, on your committee there are additional steps that must be completed in order to add that person. Please reach out to your GPC as soon as possible if you think you may want a committee member who is external to the University.
Remember, your committee is an important resource as you continue to focus and refine your dissertation topic through the prelims and the prospectus.
Ph.D. Final Oral Committee
Your final oral (dissertation defense) committee usually consists of the same members as your prelim but don't have to be. Even if the members of your final oral committee are the same as for your prelim committee, you still must submit the online form; see the Examination Committees page on OneStop.
- The chair of this committee cannot be your advisor or co-advisor.
- For the final oral committee, you have to indicate which of the members will be official thesis reviewers. Not everyone on the committee needs to be a reviewer, but the Grad School requires a minimum of three: two from the major field (the advisor is one of these) and one from the minor or supporting program. All members of the final oral examining committee read the thesis, although only those designated as thesis reviewers sign the report form certifying that the thesis is ready for defense.